Architect of Innovations at Cal Poly Pomona Foundation to Retire

After 22 years as director of the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, Paul Storey plans to retire June 30.

Summer plans for Paul Storey include taking a road trip to Seattle to visit his granddaughters and planning pilgrimages to his beloved University of Tennessee in the fall for football games.

After nearly four decades of working on college campuses, Storey, executive director of the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, says he is looking forward to kicking off his retirement with family and friends. However, he will miss the campus he called home for 22 years.

“I have loved working with amazing people,” he said. “The most rewarding aspect is being able to serve the university, and serve the faculty, staff and students.”

Storey, who retires on June 30, came to Cal Poly Pomona in 1995 from Clemson University. He decided to apply to head the foundation because he liked that it was a separate corporation, allowing him the opportunity to put his personal stamp on running it.

Because of his efforts, the award-winning foundation, the largest employer of students on campus, has grown and thrived. Under his leadership, Innovation Village opened, enabling the forging of public-private partnerships, encouraging entrepreneurship, and expanding educational and career opportunities for students.

The construction of University Village provided campus housing to 1,300 students. In additional, new dining options, including Innovation Brew Works and the Poly Trolley, were added during his tenure.

Other accomplishments include quadrupling the dining outlets from seven in 1995 to 28 this year, launching the Bronco Bookstore’s online presence to generate $2 million in revenues in 2016 and increasing foundation assets from $30 million to $220 million.

“We are sad to say goodbye and are grateful for all of his team’s accomplishments that have led to the foundation’s recognition among peers as a strategic pioneer,” said President Soraya M. Coley.

Storey said that the credit for any strides goes to the foundation, not him.

“Everything that I’ve accomplished has been the accomplishment of the foundation,” he said. “Everybody has a role to play. I just happen to be the executive director.”

About the Author

Melanie is a communications specialist in the Office of Public Affairs and a Cal Poly Pomona alumna. The areas she writes about include ASI, University Library, CLASS, The Collins College of Hospitality Management, the College of Agriculture, student affairs, foundation, CEU, and events. Her other duties include CyberNews.